Two people reported seeing a dead body in the Winooski River, not far from this spot at 31 Welch Park Drive in Middlesex, near the confluence of the Winooski and Mad Rivers. Photo by Carla Occaso
Vermont State Police are seeking help from the public in identifying a body that was found last Friday evening in the Winooski River near its confluence with the Mad River
Detective Sergeant Benjamin D. Katz released the following information regarding the human remains. They were found at 6:26 p.m. on Friday, June 16 by the banks of the Winooski River in Middlesex.
“The deceased is a white woman standing about 5-feet 3-inches tall, weighing 206 pounds, and between 30 and 50 years old. She has tattoos of the names ‘Sue’ and ‘Patty’ on her left forearm, along with other tattoos on her body, including a red and blue butterfly, a pink and yellow five-petal flower on her right foot with leaves going up her ankle, and two roses on her right wrist. She was wearing a large ring on her right index finger with a carved face and headdress.”
“The body was located near 31 Welch Park Drive in Middlesex, near the confluence of the Mad and Winooski rivers. Police do not believe the woman is someone who has previously been reported missing.”
“The cause of death is pending, along with testing that includes examining dental records and DNA in an attempt to identify the individual. It is unclear how long the woman had been deceased at the time the body was found.”
The initial news release came out at 4:40 on Saturday, June 20, and said that at 6:26 p.m., two people told police they believed they saw a dead body in the Winooski River. A large number of troopers responded to the scene and decided that, because of the difficult terrain where the body was located, they would begin removal the following morning. “Troopers stayed through the night to protect the scene.”
On Saturday, members of the Vermont State Police scuba team, along with a detective from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and an assistant medical examiner, responded to the scene and removed and examined the body. An autopsy had been scheduled for Sunday June 21 at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Neither Middlesex Selectboard Chair Peter Hood, nor Middlesex Fire Chief Doug Hanson were present during the event, nor did they have any further inside information.
The Bridge went to various accessible points of that area of the Winooski River, which happens to be across Vermont Route 2 from the Middlesex State Police Barracks. While the river banks in the park area are not too steep, many spots along the Winooski nearby are extremely rocky and steep to the point of cliff-like.
Police ask that anyone who might have information about the woman’s identity or the circumstances of this incident call the Middlesex barracks at 802-229-9191.
As of June 24 at 5 p.m., no further information has been released.
